Two piece climber apparatus

ABSTRACT

A two piece climber includes an upper calf bracket portion and a lower “J” shaped stirrup bracket portion permanently or removably interchangeably connected together. The lower “J” shaped stirrup bracket portion includes an upper slotted portion for receiving the lower portion of the upper calf bracket portion. The lower “J” shaped stirrup bracket portion also includes a bottom grooved or knurled grip portion to provide traction for an arborist walking across branches.

This application is a continuation based on U.S. Ser. No. 12/938,324,filed on Nov. 2, 2010, which is based upon Provisional Application No.61/258,166, filed Nov. 4, 2009, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tree or pole climber commonly used byarborists or utility workers, and more particularly relates to a twopiece tree or pole climber having an upper calf bracket portion and alower “J” shaped stirrup bracket portion, with the upper and lowerportions configured to be interchangeably connected together.

Tree or pole climbers typically are formed from a single piece of metalto have an upper calf bracket portion and a lower “J” shaped stirrup orhook shaped bracket portion, with the upper calf bracket portion beingconfigured to be strapped to a user's calf over a boot, with appropriatepadding or shielding, and the lower “J” shaped stirrup or hook shapedbracket portion being configured to be strapped to the user's foot. Thelower “J” shaped stirrup or hook shaped bracket portion is alsotypically configured to have one or more spurs or gaffs bolted to thelower “J” shaped stirrup or hook shaped bracket portion. The upper andlower bracket portions each can be formed with different angles andconfigurations to suit the particular user or the intended use of theclimber. Such climbers are also typically formed as one piece of avariety of materials, such as steel, aluminum or titanium, for example,with each material having desirable properties of strength, durabilityand weight. It would be desirable to provide a climber formed of anupper calf bracket portion and a lower “J” shaped stirrup bracketportion separate from the upper calf bracket portion, with the upper andlower portions configured to be interchangeably connected together, suchthat the upper calf bracket portion and lower bracket portion can beformed with different angles and configurations, and of differentmaterials, and assembled together as desired.

It would also be desirable to provide a grip portion on a bottom surfacethe lower “J” shaped stirrup bracket portion of the climber, to give anarborist some traction when walking across branches. The presentinvention meets these and other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention provides for a twopiece tree or pole climber having a first or upper calf bracket portion,and a second or lower “J” shaped stirrup bracket portion with a groovedgrip portion on a bottom surface the lower “J” shaped stirrup bracketportion. The upper calf bracket portion and the lower “J” shaped stirrupbracket portion are configured to be either permanently or removablyinterchangeably connected together, and the grooved grip portion on abottom surface the lower “J” shaped stirrup bracket portion of theclimber also functions as a wear strip, indicating that it is time toreplace the climber when the grooves exhibit a sufficient degree ofwear.

Accordingly, the present invention provides for a two piece tree or poleclimber having an upper calf bracket portion and a separate lower “J”shaped stirrup bracket portion configured to be either permanently orremovably interchangeably connected together. The upper calf bracketportion includes an upper portion having a surface defining a pluralityof bolt holes or apertures for mounting of an upper pad and calf strapby fasteners, and a lower portion having a surface defining a pluralityof bolt holes or apertures for mounting of the lower “J” shaped stirrupbracket portion to the upper calf bracket portion.

The lower “J” shaped stirrup bracket portion includes an upper slottedor forked portion including two upper plate portions spaced apart toform an upper slot for receiving the lower portion of the upper calfbracket portion, with each of the two upper plate portions havingsurfaces defining a plurality of bolt holes or apertures correspondingto and aligned with each other and the plurality of bolt holes orapertures of the lower portion of the upper calf bracket portion, forpermanently or removably mounting the lower portion of the upper calfbracket portion to the upper portion of the lower “J” shaped stirrupbracket portion. The upper calf bracket portion and the lower “J” shapedstirrup bracket portion are configured to be either permanently orremovably interchangeably connected together, so that the upper calfbracket portion and lower “J” shaped stirrup bracket portion can beformed separately with desired angles and configurations, and ofdifferent materials, such as steel, aluminum or titanium, for example,for optimizing and customizing strength and weight features of theclimber, and assembled together as desired.

The lower “J” shaped stirrup bracket portion also includes a bottomgrooved, ridged or knurled grip portion with a bottom surface defining afirst plurality of grooves or ridges extending parallel to each other ina first direction, and a second plurality of grooves or ridges extendingparallel to each other in a second direction and intersecting the firstplurality of grooves. The grooved, ridged or knurled grip portion on abottom surface the lower “J” shaped stirrup bracket portion of theclimber provides traction for an arborist walking across branches, andalso functions as a wear strip, indicating that it is time to replacethe climber when the grooves or ridges exhibit a sufficient degree ofwear.

These and other aspects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description and the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate by way of example the features of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the two piece climber shown in anassembled configuration, according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective exploded view of the two piece climbershown in a disassembled configuration, according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the two piece climber shown in anassembled configuration, showing the bottom grooved or knurled gripportion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, which are provided by way of example, and notby way of limitation, the present invention provides for a two piecetree or pole climber 10 having a first or upper calf bracket portion 12including an upper portion 14 having a surface defining a plurality ofbolt holes or apertures 16 for mounting of an upper pad and calf strap(not shown) by fasteners (not shown), such as bolts or rivets, forexample. Referring to FIG. 2, the upper calf bracket portion alsoincludes a lower portion 18 having a surface defining a plurality ofbolt holes or apertures 29 for mounting of a separate second or lower“J” shaped stirrup bracket portion 22 to the upper calf bracket portion.

The lower “J” shaped stirrup bracket portion includes an upper slottedor forked portion 24 including two upper plate portions 26 a, 26 bspaced apart to form an upper slot 28 for receiving the lower portion ofthe upper calf bracket portion in tongue and groove fashion, with eachof the two upper plate portions having surfaces defining a plurality ofbolt holes or apertures 30, with the bolt holes or apertures of oneplate aligned with the corresponding bolt holes or apertures in theother plate, and with the bolt holes or apertures of both plates alignedwith a corresponding matching plurality of bolt holes or apertures 29 ofthe lower portion of the upper calf bracket portion when it is receivedin the upper slot, for either permanently or removably interchangeablymounting the lower portion of the upper calf bracket portion to theupper portion of the lower “J” shaped stirrup bracket portion byfasteners 33, such as bolts or rivets, for example.

The upper calf bracket portion and the lower “J” shaped stirrup bracketportion are configured to be interchangeably permanently or removablyconnected together, so that the upper calf bracket portion and lowerbracket portion can be formed separately with desired angles andconfigurations, and of different materials, such as steel, aluminum ortitanium, for example, for optimizing and customizing strength andweight features of the climber, and assembled together as desired. Thelower “J” shaped stirrup bracket portion also includes a middle portion32 with a surface defining a plurality of countersunk holes 34 forreceiving fasteners (not shown), such as bolts or rivets, for example,for mounting of one or more spurs or gaffs (not shown) to the lower “J”shaped stirrup bracket portion, and typically facing away from a lowerstirrup portion of the lower “J” shaped stirrup bracket portion.

The lower “J” shaped stirrup bracket portion also includes a bottomcurved hook or stirrup portion 36 with at least one bottom grooved,ridged or knurled grip portion 38 with a bottom surface defining a firstplurality of grooves or ridges 40 extending parallel to each other in afirst direction, and a second plurality of grooves or ridges 42extending parallel to each other in a second direction intersecting thefirst plurality of grooves, as shown in FIG. 3. The grooved or knurledgrip portion on the bottom surface the lower “J” shaped stirrup bracketportion of the climber provides traction for an arborist walking acrossbranches, and also functions as a wear strip, indicating that it is timeto replace the climber when the grooves exhibit a sufficient degree ofwear. The lower “J” shaped stirrup bracket portion also preferablyincludes a loop 44 on a lower end portion for receiving and mounting ofa lower strap (not shown) to be threaded around a boot of a user.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that while particular forms ofthe invention have been illustrated and described, various modificationscan be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention belimited, except as by the appended claims.

1. A two piece climber, comprising: a first calf bracket portionincluding an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion ofsaid first calf bracket portion having a surface defining a plurality ofapertures, and said lower portion of said first calf bracket portionhaving a surface defining a plurality of apertures; and a second stirrupbracket portion configured to be selectively connected to said firstcalf bracket portion at a plurality of different angles with respect tosaid first calf bracket portion by a plurality of fasteners securedthrough said pluralities of apertures of said first and second plateportions.
 2. The two piece climber of claim 1, wherein said secondstirrup bracket portion includes an upper slotted portion including afirst upper plate portion and a second upper plate portion, said firstand second upper plate portions being spaced apart to form an upper slotfor receiving the lower portion of the first calf bracket portion. 3.The two piece climber of claim 1, wherein said second stirrup bracketportion includes a bottom grip portion with a bottom surface defining afirst plurality of grooves extending parallel to each other in a firstdirection, and a second plurality of grooves extending parallel to eachother in a second direction and intersecting said first plurality ofgrooves.
 4. The two piece climber of claim 1, wherein said first calfbracket portion and said second stirrup bracket portion are configuredto be removably interchangeably connected together.
 5. The two piececlimber of claim 1, wherein said first calf bracket portion and saidsecond stirrup bracket portion are formed separately of differentmaterials.
 6. The two piece climber of claim 1, wherein said secondstirrup bracket portion is “J” shaped.